No. 22 Terriers Clinch Patriot League Title with Win Over Lehigh

By: Andrew Mason

BOSTON — For the third straight year, Boston University Field Hockey grabbed the Patriot League crown, granting the Terriers hosting rights for the impending league tournament. BU had been in first place of the conference all year, but officially became regular season champion after a 6-0 shutout over Lehigh on Saturday, moving their league record to 5-0.

The 10-6 Terriers were rolling on the offensive end against the Mountain Hawks, especially in the second half. Lehigh goalie Paige Innarella allowed four players in scarlet and white – Allie Renzi, Kara Enoch, Grace Boston and Ailsa Connolly – to find the back of the cage in the final 20 minutes of the contest. Both Boston and Enoch also added goals in the first half as well.

With playoffs only two weekends away, BU has found the perfect time to click offensively. Throughout September, the freshmen core of Connolly, Petra Hall and Miya Denison who carried most of the weight of the Terriers’ goal scoring. However, in the last few weeks, the upperclassmen have been lending helping hands.

Juniors Ally Hammel and Enoch, as well as seniors Boston and Renzi, have each scored at least three goals in October thus far, compared to a total of six combined throughout the first ten games of the season.

Defensively, the Terriers could not have played a better game against Lehigh, with goalkeepers Millie Baker and Kathleen Keegan posting their third combined shutout of the season, and the first since August.

Baker, a freshman, did not face a shot on goal in the first half, with Keegan saving the only two shots sent her way in the second half. In 15 of the Terriers’ 16 games this season, Keegan and Baker have split minutes perfectly down the middle.

BU now turns its attention to a non-conference opponent, No. 15 Harvard. The Crimson suffered their only scoreless loss of the season on Saturday at the hands of No. 14 Princeton. The Tigers  took down BU, 1-0, earlier in the year.

The Terriers have struggled against fellow Top 25 teams, with four losses and one win that came against American. Although BU has the top seed for the PL tournament in its back pocket, defeating an elite Harvard squad would speak volumes if the Terriers end up needing an at-large bid for the National Tournament.

BU travels across the river to take on Harvard on Tuesday, Oct. 24. The Terriers’ last road game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.